Death notice for SMU trustee, alum Brother Michael Collins

It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Brother Michael Collins, FSC ’59, M’65, Ed.D., a current and long-time Saint Mary’s University Trustee, died from cancer on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012.

Brother Michael was serving as president and chief academic administrator of DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis. He was a prominent national figure in Catholic, secondary education throughout his distinguished 53-year career. Saint Mary’s University awarded Brother Michael with an honorary Doctorate of Leadership and Service at the 2011 Founder’s Day ceremony.

Visitation will be Friday from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. (with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.) at DeLaSalle High School. The funeral Mass will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis (with visitation one hour before Mass). A reception at DeLaSalle High School will follow the Mass.

The Saint Mary’s community extends its sympathy to Brother Michael’s family, to the Christian Brothers of the Midwest District, to the DeLaSalle High School community, and to Brother Michael’s Saint Mary's classmates.

Saint Mary’s University names two new trustees

WINONA, Minn. —Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has announced two new members of its board of trustees.

Bill Herzog ’70 of Apple Valley, Minn., is a founder and managing partner of Course Charters, LLC. Course Charters provides a variety of management consulting services to small and mid-sized organizations. He is past president of the SMU Alumni Board and served on the most recent presidential search committee.

Linda Kuczma ’78, J.D., of Park Ridge, Ill., has more than 25 years experience in the practice of intellectual property law. She practices in the Chicago offices of Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.

Additionally Mary Ann Remick of Rochester was appointed to an additional five-year term. Remick has served on the board since 2004, and chaired the most recent presidential search committee.

Brother Michael Collins ’59, FSC, Saint Paul; Lyle Delwiche, Minneapolis; and Oscar Straub ’52, St. Louis, completed 20 years of service on the board. Delwiche and Straub were named Trustees Emeriti by the board in recognition of their service. John Ehlert ’67, Wayzata, completed his 10-year term on the board, and Timothy Horan ’70, Plymouth, completed his five-year term on the Board.

Trustees approve new Saint Mary’s track/soccer complex

WINONA, Minn. — A plan to build an outdoor track and field/soccer complex was approved Friday by the Saint Mary’s University Board of Trustees.

The athletic facility will be built at the Winona campus, located near the front entrance along Hwy. 14 and Gilmore Valley Road. Construction will begin in summer 2008. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost $2.5 million. A second phase will add permanent viewing stands, concession area, press box and lights.

An on-campus track/soccer complex has been under consideration for several years, according to Chris Kendall, vice president for student development. He said Saint Mary’s is “confident the addition of an attractive, well-constructed facility will greatly benefit the university in a number of key areas, including visibility and marketing, enrollment, athletics and campus atmosphere.” Kendall added, "SMU is one of the few MIAC schools without an outdoor track. This will significantly sharpen our competitive edge and help with the recruitment of student-athletes."

A competition soccer pitch will be built in the center of the track, “making the complex the new home to Cardinal soccer and a training facility for cross country and other athletic programs,” according to Nikki Fennern, athletic director. “It will be a direct asset to six of our teams, as well as to other athletes, intramurals, recreational users and summer camp participants,” Fennern said.

A year ago, the Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees decided not to reinstate football as a varsity sport. Instead, the board directed the university to provide better support for existing athletic programs. A recent peer review of SMU athletics noted that an outdoor track/soccer complex would serve as a major step toward achieving that goal.

This past summer, Saint Mary’s completed the first phase of building new baseball and fastpitch softball fields. Future plans will address needs for athletic training facilities, locker rooms, and tennis courts.

Saint Mary’s names five to board of trustees

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has announced five new members of its board of trustees:

Brother Gustavo Ramirez, FSC, has served as president of Universidad La Salle Noroeste in Sonora, Mexico, since 2000.

Thomas Dyer of Whitefish Bay, Wis., and Winona, is retired from Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., where he served as vice president of corporate services. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Saint Mary’s in 1967.

Patrick Salvi and his law firm of Salvi, Schostok and Pritchard P.C. have offices in Chicago and Waukegan, Ill. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in 1975, and received an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1999, both from Saint Mary’s.

Joseph Ross of Naperville, Ill., served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Federal Signal Corporation in Oak Brook, Ill., prior to his retirement. He graduated from Saint Mary’s in 1967. He previously served on the board from 1991-2001.

Brother Lawrence Humphrey, FSC, is the president of Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis. He has also been appointed regional coordinator for the Christian Brothers Conference, the United States/Toronto Region.

Current trustees Celeste Suchocki of Valley View, Ohio, and Salvatore Polizzotto ’67 of Naperville, Ill., were appointed to additional five-year terms.

Brother Bernard LoCoco, FSC ’58, of Moraga, Calif., retired from the board at the May meeting. He had served on the board since 1997.